Tool for use in resurfacing room enclosures



Nov. 9, 1954 F. T. RICE ETAL TOOL FOR USE IN RESURFACING ROOM ENCLOSURES Filed April 1, 1953 IN V EN TORS F/Pfl/VC/S 7.' 9/65 4 0815 6. PUBBl/VS u) Lum'm n .W

JTTO/FWEV TOOL FOR USE 'IN RESURFACING ROOM ENCLOSURES Francis T. Ricefliomewood, and Noble YG. Rbbins,'La Grange, 111.

Application April 1, 1953, Serial No. $46,214

6 Claims. (Cl. 216-61) This invention relates to an instrument which 'is employed to facilitate the handling of-flexible sheeting which may be applied to room enclosures. It-more'spec fically is directedto a tool used to assist in the application of flexible sheets of wall covering, such as wallpaper.

To economize'in the remodelingor decorating of dwellings, occupants have resorted to purchasing the materials needed and doing the work themselves. As a result, manufacturersof materials,'havin'g .to do with'the upkeep and attractiveness'of the home, are supplymg 'ma'ny'products that may be applied or installed by the amateur. The do-it-yourself idea afiects wallpaper, flOOl'lIlg and tile, to mention a few. Also, to assist the amateur, suppliers of materials will upon request provide the necessary tools to apply the materials and these tools are designed to make the amateurs labor as easy as possible. In spite of all these valuable aids, wallpaperlng endeavors generally result in an amateurish appearance because of the difliculty encountered in making workman-like seams. To obviate this difficulty the amateur usually resorts to the use of lap seams. Such seams, while effective, are not as neat in appearance as butt seams.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a tool which can be used in the resurfacing of room enclosure surfaces.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a tool which can effectively and efliciently be used in applying wall covering edge-to-edge without overlapping.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of the tool.

Figure 2 is a side elevation.

From the drawing it is seen that the tool consists essentially of a frame having a handle portion 11 and a shank portion 12. Laterally affixed to the shank portion are a pair of opposed axles 13 and 14. In the embodiment shown in Figure l the frame is fabricated from a continuous piece of rod which is appropriately bent to form the necessary elements of the frame and held in the desired configuration by a suitable yoke. It is to be understood however that other modifications of the frame will be apparent to one who is skilled in the art and are intended to be within the scope of this invention. Similarly it will be noted that terminal section of the shank is parallel to the plane of the handle but displaced therefrom being joined to the handle section of frame by an oblique section of the shank. This expedient is employed to permit the operator to use the tool without encountering interference between the hand which grasps tool and the surface upon which the tool is being operated. Obviously any equivalent means for connecting the handle and shank sections of the frame to effect this object is encompassed by this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment the axles 13 and 14 are reflectively mounted in symmetrical relation to the longitudinal axis of the frame 10. While it is preferred that the axles 13 and 14 be mounted acutely on the shank portion 12, they may also be obtusely mounted without inimically affecting the efliciency of the tool. The only dilierence occurs in the manipulation of the tool which hereinafter will be more fully considered. The angle at which these axles are mounted is important. For example, when the tool is used in applying wallpaper, if the angle is too small, the force applying members will slip and be ineffective. Conversely when the angle is too large, this will cause the wallpaper to bunch and tear. In this application of the tool it has been found that, if the axles are mounted acutely, the angle between each 2,693,893 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 axle and the longitudinal axis ;of :the frame should he between and .88, however itis preferable that angle be about-86. /z.. 'If howeveranxobtuse mounting is employed, the angle between each axle and .the longitudinal axis of the frame :should -be between 92 and and preferably 93 /2". This means 0f mounting rpermits thte force applying-members .of the tool to exert .most effectively 'theirinfluence in theapositionin'g of "wal leovering, such as wallpaperytoform a butt seam.

These force applying members are shown 'as rotatable cylindrical rollers -15 :and 16 mounted respectively tOll axles 13 and 14. To increase [the friction between the rollers and the wall covering, the work engaging :surfaces of the rollers are coated -with -:a 'rnaterial which will produce a maximum amount :of resistance *to rela- -tive motion between the workuengaging'surface and work surface when in'contact With =eachxother. Rubber, for example, may be used. Other types of suitable materials include various synthetic aelasti'c polymers, rubber impregnated fabric, :and the like. Therdllers Hand 16 may be in the form shown, namely a *woojden-core 1.7 having a suitable coating 1'8 applied thereto or .the material which is used. as the coating may be employed to prepare :alsolid roller=df *this material, having a suitable bearing inserted which will permit the roller to be rotated freely. The rollers are retained on the axles 13 and 14 by means of suitable fasteners such as the threaded fasteners 12 and 20.

In employing the tool as an aid in hanging wallpaper on a vertical wall, it is necessary to hang the initial sheet in the desired position and in proper alignment. The next sheet is then positioned adjacent thereto in pattern alignment with the contiguous edges of each sheet spaced slightly apart. The tool is placed astraddle the seam with one roller on one sheet and the other roller on the other sheet. With the axles mounted as shown in the illustrative embodiment, an upward movement of the tool will cause the most recently hung sheet to be drawn towards the initially hung sheet while a downward movement will force the former away from the latter. This manipulative operation will however be reversed to effect this result should a tool having obtusely mounted axles be employed. Accordingly, by judiciously manipulating the roller along the entire length of the seam, it is possible to form easily and efliciently a butt seam with a minimum of effort. The tool is then employed in abutting each subsequently hung sheet. By employing the principle outlined above, the tool may also be used to apply wallpaper to ceilings and the lik The foregoing description of the tool and its use is an illustrative and non-limiting example of the instant invention. Other modifications of the tool disclosed which will permit additional analogous applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are accordingly within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, by increasing the size and weight of the tool, an instrument useful in the resurfacing of floors with sheeted materials, such as linoleum or rubber, can be produced.

We therefore claim as our invention:

1. A tool for facilitating the handling of flexible sheeting applied to the surfaces of room enclosures which comprises a frame having a handle portion and a shank portion, a pair of apposed axles mounted laterally and obliquely adjacent the terminal extremity of said shank portion, and cylindrical force-imparting members rotatably mounted on said axles, the work engaging surfaces of said force-imparting members being capable of resisting the relative movement of said sheeting when in contact therewith.

2. A tool for facilitating the handling of flexible sheeting applied to the surfaces of room enclosures which comprises a frame having a handle portion and a shank portion, a pair of apposed axles mounted laterally and reflectively adjacent the terminal extremity of said shank portion, and cylindrical force-imparting members rotatably mounted on said axles, the work engaging surfaces of said force-imparting members being capable of resisting the relative movement of said sheeting when in contact therewith.

3. A hand tool for facilitating the application of wall covering which comprises a frame having a handle portion and a shank-portion, a pair of apposed axles mounted laterally and obliquely adjacent the terminal extremity of said shank portion, each of said axles being mounted at an angle of about 85-to about 88 with respectto the longitudinal-axis-of said frame, and cylindrical forceimparting members rotatably mounted on said axles, said force-imparting members having-work engaging surfaces which are capable of resisting the relative movement of said wall covering when in contact therewith 4. A hand tool for facilitating the application of wall covering which comprises a frame having a handle portion and a shank portion, a pair of. apposed axles mounted laterally and reflectively adjacent the terminal extremity of said shank portion, each of said axles being mounted at an angle of about 85 toabout 88 with respect to the longitudinal axis of said frame, and cylindrical forceimparting members rotatably .mountedion said axles, said force-imparting members having work engaging surfaces which are capable of resisting the relative movement of said wall covering when in contact therewith.

5. A hand tool for facilitating the application of wall covering which comprises a frame having a handle portion and a shank portion, apair of apposed axles mounted laterally and obliquely adjacent the terminal extremity of said shank portion, each of said axles being mounted at an angle of about-86% with-rcspect to the longitudinal axis of said frame, and cylindrical force-imparting members rotatably mounted on said axles, said forceimparting members having work engaging surfaces which are capable of resisting the relative movement of said wall covering when in contact therewith.

6. A hand tool for facilitating the application of wall covering which comprises a frame having a handle portion and a shank portion, a pair of apposed axles mounted laterally and obliquely adjacent the terminal extremity of said shank portion, each of said axles being mounted at an angle of about 86 /2" with respect to the longitudinal axis of said frame, and cylindrical force-imparting members rotatably mounted on said axles, and said force- }mparting ,members having rubber work engaging suraces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

